Tip: Organizing the Pantry
Archived on 07/14/2009
I have a small pantry and would like advice on how to organize it. Can you stack canned goods on the floor?
Onesummer from GA
Feedback:
RE: Organizing the Pantry
Keep things together that are used frequently. Like keeping all baking supplies and canned items together, all the tomato products (paste, purees...), beans, soups, corn together - this will make searching a minimal task. If you do ethnic cooking, you can keep the supplies gathered in separate sections too.
I keep my spices in one of those ELFA racks from The Container Store that hubby shortened so that it fits on a shelf. I keep the spices in alphabetical order and the ones in large jars are very close by, all grouped together.
Been using the Elfa spice drawer rack for so many years that I am guessing it's been at least 15. Still satisfied. (09/05/2006)
By cookwie
RE: Organizing the Pantry
I also have a very small pantry. My solution was to buy a cheap but sturdy bookshelf and put it in my laundry room. I stack all my canned goods on the shelfs. (09/06/2006)
By SherryB
RE: Organizing the Pantry
I have a tiny apartment which means tiny kitchen, almost no cabinet space, laughable counter space. But it did come with a pantry, its small but at least I have one. I utilize it all the way to the ceiling. For my can goods, I had a white wire three tier basket shelf kinda thing that used to be used in my bathroom, when I had a bigger place. I now use it in my pantry, I just slid it in and put all my can goods on it. I do sauces on top, veggies in the middle and bottom, and whatever doesnt fit, goes on the floor next to it. As long as they are neat in there on the floor, they dont bother me. Also has a door so it gets too messy I just close it, lol. I also put an end table that I had extra into the pantry, lots of room down low. On it I can put appliances, more food and then put stuff underneath it also. (09/06/2006)
By micksgirl
RE: Organizing the Pantry
The ELFA rack picture from the Container Store didn't come through, so I will explain. It's a set of drawers that are very shallow, made of wire. In fact, it's probably the shallowest set of drawers that they offer. DH shortened the legs on this so that it fits on the pantry shelf and has three drawers.
For my son's apt., I set up some large stacking wire shelves (also from The Container Store) in the apt. coat closet and arranged canned goods on them. He has a protein shelf (peanut butter, tune...), a canned veggie shelf, a soup shelf and the top is the junk food shelf because potato and tortilla chip bags are the tallest.
Holly (09/07/2006)
By cookwie
RE: Organizing the Pantry
We have a single closet size pantry in our kitchen and it has about 4 deep shelves. When I buy things on sale I group like items together neatly (a lot like the picture in one of the other posts).
Now for the fun part... RECYCLE YOUR CONTAINERS! Plastic or glass containers originally used for mayonnaise, peanut butter and jelly are great for storage. (I use the ketchup containers for mixing my own cleaning solutions for veggies, etc.). Simply remove all of the labels and once the jar is washed thoroughly and dryed out, use those containers to sugar, flour, salt, beans, rice etc. You'll have no more pesky bags to deal with (and hopefully no bugs in the flour).
Take a permanent marker or label maker (if you want to get fancy) and clearly mark the new continents of each container (going for the salt when you think it's sugar is no fun!). Best of all... you'll have a beautifully organized pantry that looks great, and you'll be helping to save our planet. (09/11/2006)
By brws
Report Spam or Abuse
Tip: Organizing the Pantry
Archived on 09/01/2006
My husband built me a pantry, which now I get to use all my cupboards in the kitchen for kitchen stuff. I like organization. My can goods are in alphabetical order (as are my spice goods, but they are not pictured here). I only purchase something if its on sale and I have a coupon.
By Tracey from Michigan
Answers:
Bins
I always had a hard time getting to things in the back of my pantry. My husband finally decided to just put everything into plastic bins, the shallow kind made for under the bed storage. They can be pulled out to be looked into and slid back into the pantry with minimal rearranging! (02/15/2005)
By Jacqui
An Old Dresser
I have an old dresser in my pantry that I keep various items in. One drawer has all my wax paper, tin foil, and Tupperware lids. Another drawer has multiples of boxed rices & pastas, as well as dry dressing mixes and gravy packets, and the rest have can goods. It keeps my pantry looking nice as well as my kitchen cabinets. (02/15/2005)
By By Terri H.
Door Shelves
I bought one of those cheap "over the door" plastic shoes sorters that hangs on two hooks and you can still close the door with it up. I use the pockets to sort smaller items. Each plastic pocket is labeled with the labels from my vcr tapes, such as "Koolaid", Seasoning mixes, Tuna, etc. It saves alot of shelf space and keep those puches and stray items organized. (02/15/2005)
By Suzanne S.
Glass Containers
After going through the whole mess of buggy flour, pasta, etc. that was stored in old fashioned metal canisters, I switched, and now use clear glass or clear plastic gallon jars as canisters. These can be obtained from restaurants, and actually you can buy some things like salad dressing in the large jars in the grocery stores these days. They are "see through", so you don't have to even have labels. I pour all cereal from the original boxes into these "canisters" as soon as I get it home. Have not had a bug infestation since using this method. Also, since I have a walk in pantry just off my cooking area, I have a huge pegboard on one wall and it holds anything that will hang from spatulas and funnels to skillets and griddles. Everything at my fingertips....no digging in drawers. I also have a shelf that holds my toaster oven, my breadmaker and my Kitchenaid mixer so that I have them handy at all times. I use them right where they are stored. Needless to say, my walk in pantry is my pride and joy. (02/16/2005)
By Harlean from Arkansas
Tupperware
Tupperware has organized my pantry. I know Tupperware can be pricey but it was worth my investment years ago. I built my collection over many years and have found many bargains on Ebay in recent years. I keep flour, sugar, brown sugar, rice, pasta, nuts, all the basic needs for cooking and baking stored in Tupperware. I also have some Rubbermaid containers that work very well also. The Tupperware just stacks so nicely and organizes well in the lazy susan cabinet. All my spices are Tupperware stored as well. I know what I have, the food item stays fresh and I am able to fit more in my cabinets. (02/16/2005)
By Sew Sew Mitch
Good Job
You did yourself proud. I'm impressed. That's a good job, I assume you have cooperation from other family members? (11/22/2005)
By Syd
Jealous
I am so jealous--you are so lucky. This is one thing I want in my "dream home." It must make mealtime a breeze. You can now stockpile and rotate foods with ease. This is one of those things that makes life much easier--congratulations. (11/23/2005)
By susan
Report Spam or Abuse
|
